Automatic telephone pay-station.



P. X. BEE. AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE PAY STATION. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 29, 1908.

945,438. Patented Jan. 4, 1910 3 BHEE TSBHEET 1.

WITNESSES 7;'

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F. X. BEE. AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE PAY STATION. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 29, 1908.

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WITNESSES wm/wz fmwfi file.

Patented Jan.4,1910.

' X. BEE. AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE PAY STATION. .APPLIUA'I'ION FILED OUT. 29, 1908.

'3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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Patented m4, 1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE.

FRANCIS X. BEE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE PAY-STATION.

T '0 all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, F RANGIS X. BEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Telephone Pay-Stations, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in automatic telephone pay stations and has for its objects to simplify the construction of such machines, and make a more effective combination than at present in use, to return any coin to the depositor even after the signal that it has been deposited has been received by the operator, to detect and return any slugs, light coins or spurious coins, conveying them to the outside of the apparatus, also to make the kick out apparatus move slowly in conveying the coin along the guides, and then to move fast to throw out any slug that may have been delayed upon the guides.

Another object of my invention is to cause all of the coins of whatever denomination, to ring the same bell but to give a pre-determined signal upon that bell so that the denomination of the coin shall be known to the operator, and not to have a number of different bells each for one of the coins, as is the usual practice.

WVith these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains may understand how to make and use the same I will describe its construction in detail, referring by figure to'the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a rear view of the apparatus, partly in section, the back plate being removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, the right hand plate being removed, and this is also partly in section. Fig. 3 is a plan view looking down into the machine. Fig. 4 is an elevation of part of the locking mechan- 1sm.

In Fig. 2 the coin is inserted in one of the slots 1 and forced by gravity down the chute 2. on to the guides 3, where it will pass immediately above the magnet 4. This magnet is made with a project-ing pole piece 5, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 29, 1908.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

Serial No. 459,988.

part 4 causing a gradually increasing drag upon any iron slug, making it travel more slowly than gravity would allow it to, and when the slug covers the pole of 4 and the pole of 5 it will permanently stop.

As is usual in these machines, any coin of small diameter will drop through the guides 3 on to the plate 6, and be discharged through the opening 7. Any iron slug will be caught by the throw-out-fingers 8, and be deposited in the chute 9, from which it will travel down the chute 10, around the curve 11, into the chute 12 and so on the plate 6, and be discharged at 7. The projections 3 are roughenings of the surface of the guide 3 and are for the purpose of causing any lead slugs to be retained upon the guide so that they will be actuated by the throw-out-fingers 8, in precisely the same manner that iron slugs are, and will follow the same course being thrown out of the machine at 7. Any other coins passing these tests will drop into the chute 13 and the action here of all the chutes is the same for each denomination of coin. Should the coin be too thin it will pass be tween the vertical wall 14 and the inclined plate 15, and falling upon the plate 16 will pass over the plate 6 and out at 7. The plate is kept in place by the weight 17, these two members being journaled at 18 and an extension bar 19 projects as shown in the drawing so that it overlaps the end of the lever 20, which is journaled at 21. The lever 20, may be used as the ordinary hanger for the receiver of the telephone, and it may have the usual electrical connections. As long as the receiver is hung upon the hook 20 it is evident that the bar 19 will be elevated and the space between 14 and 15 so large that any coin will drop through, and be caught on the plate 16 and returned over the plate 6, through the hole 7. Should this hook not be used for the receiver it is evident that a coin having been deposited in the machine and not used for any cause can be reclaimed by the depositor by simply depressing the hook. Should the coin be of standard thickness it will, under ordinary circumstances be held between the plates 14 and 15.

lVhen the operator calls for the money the handle 22 will be drawn over as usual. This will operate the bar 23. On this bar is the coil spring 24, which is adapted to return the mechanism to the position shown in the drawing. Also the lever 25 to which is attached the rod 26, connected to the piston 27 of the dash pot, of which 28 is the cylinder. Also connected to 25 is the rod 2t), which is pinioned at 30 to the lever 31, and this lever is mounted upon the shaft Also upon the shaft 32 are the coin receivers 34 and 35, respectively for the quarter, ten cent and five cent pieces, and there may be any number of these receptacles, as there may be any number of chutes. The receptacle is made so that the coin will be held between the walls 36, the handle 22 having been rotated as far as it will go against the stop. The re ceptacle 33 will be in line with the opening between 14 and 15 and the projection 37 will strike against the weight 17, causing the plate 15 to swing backward and release the coin which will then drop into the receptacle 33. Also upon the shaft 32 is mounted an arm 38 carrying at its outer extremity a swinging pawl 39. This is adapted to en gage in the stationary rack 40. It is evident that after the handle 22 has been moved a short distance the pawl 39 will engage in the rack 40 and prevent any backward motion of the handle. Upon the completion of the stroke of the machine the pawl 39 will disengage itself from the rack 40 and be free to make a backward movement, but as soon as this backward movement commences the pawl 39 will again engage with the rack 40, making it impossible to do anything but complete the movement then commenced. Upon the other end of the shaft 32 is mounted the rack 41, which is clearly shown in Fig. 4, and 011 the frame of the machine is mounted the pawl This rack is actuated by the shaft 32 in the same manner as the apparatus above described, the pawl actuating also in the same manner with relation to the rack 41 that the pawl does with relation to the rack 40.

The shaft 43 is journaled in the frame of the machine and carries a spring 44 and a rack 45, having many teeth upon its outer circumference as there are slots or coin receptacles in the machine. Also coinciding with each of the slots 33, 34 and 35 there are bars 46, 47 and 4S fastened upon the shaft 43, and these bars are placed as shown at various angles and of various lengths, the bar 46 coinciding with the space 36 through which the quarter will be deposited being so designed that it shall move 45 so that each of the three teeth shall make contact with the pawl 49, which is pinioned to the lever 50, and carries 011 the other end of the bell crank, the hammer 51, which adapted to strike the bell or gong This hammer is held away from the bell by the coin spring 53.

It is evident that the coin in the slot 36 in its passage from the end of the chute 14 will have to pass the bar 46 and that it will rotate the shaft 43 in this passage, and as the arc of this circle is sufficient to rotate each of the teeth on 45, past the pawl 49, three signals will be given upon the bell, in the same manner, the bar 47 being only adapted to rotate the shaft 43 sufficiently to make two of the teeth actuate on the pawl 49, the bell will only make two signals and the bar 48 being so designed that the are shall only move 45, one notch, the bell will only strike one signal. In this manner one bell is capable of making any number of predetermined signals.

The plate 16 which deflects any light or recalled coin is fastened to the shaft and rotates with it so that it will not be in the way of the coin which is required to deposit in the receptacle 33, as it will then have revolved entirely out of the way. The plates 54 are hung upon the shaft 33 and are raised, so as to give free admission to the slots 1., by the kick-otf-fingers 8, but should anything occur to the machine it is evident that these plates will drop and close the slots 1, so that no coin can be deposited while the machine is out of order. The dash pot 27 and 28 is adapted to make the apparatus move slowly through part of its revolution and more rapidly thereafter owing to the compression of the air therein. Internal divisions and 56 prevent any of the coins from striking or interfering with the mechanism.

Vhen any coin has made its signal on the bell as above described and the coin holder is returned to the position shown in the drawings, it will be ejected into the channel 67 and there retained by the bar 66, which is journaled at 57 and has an armature .58 attached, this can be moved by a current from the central station at the option of the operator, being passed around the electro-magnet 59, when this current is applied the coin of any denomination is free to proceed on its way.

60 is a frame wide enough to contain any coin, and it is pivoted at 61.

62 is a hole through the wall of the apparatus. The rod (33 is pivoted to the frame (30 at 64 and to the lever 20 at 6?.

If the receiver is not on the hook the frame (30 will be in the position shown, and if the operator releases the coin at this time it will strike the inclined surface of the frame (30 and be thrown into the cash part of the mechanism. If, however, from any cause the operator desires to return the coin to the depositor, he will be requested to hang up his receiver. This will elevate the frame 60 and when the coin is released it will roll out of the opening 62, into any suitable receiver 66, from which it may be recovered by the depositor. In this manner this machine can be used as a pre-payment station.

It is evident that a machine of this description will save the time of the operator who can call for deposit without waiting for the party called to respond, and if such party does not respond and there is no connection made the money registered in payment for the call can be returned to the part making the call.

Al accepted coins are deposited in the part of the apparatus 57 from which they can be taken by opening the door 58.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details here shown as these may be varied within certain limits without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and useful, is

1. In an automatic telephone pay station, the combination of a suitable casing, having slots therein for the passage of coins of different denominations, guides leading from each of said slots, said guides being so constructed as to permit coins of less than standard diameters to fall therefrom, magnets located beneath said guides so arranged as to first retard and finally stop iron or steel slugs, projections upon said guides for stopping slugs of lead, a chute for receiving genuine coins from each set-of guides, a pivoted plate at the lower end of each of said chutes, said plates being adapted to return the genuine coins in said chutes but prevent those under standard thickness to fall therefrom, means for taking genuine coins from the chutes, a channel for receiving the genuine coins when conveyed from said chutes, means under the control of the central station for retaining said coins in or releasing them from said channel, a pivoted frame adapted to receive said coins from said channel, means for setting said frame so as to either deposit said coins in the casing or return the same to the operator, signal mechanisms adapted to be operated by the genuine coins while being conveyed from the chute to the channel, an operating lever adapted to actuate the mechanisms, a dash pot connected to said operating lever, and throw-out fingers for ejecting spurious coins which may lodge upon guides, substantially as shown and described.

In an automatic telephone pay station, the combination of a suitable casing having slots therein for the passage of coins of dif ferent denominations, .a pair of guides located adjacent to each slot, a magnet located beneath each pair of guides, adapted to retard and stop iron slugs, points projecting from said guides for stopping lead slugs, a series of throw-out fingers for removing spurious coins which may lodge upon the guides, a chute for receiving such spurious coins, means for guiding said spurious coins from said chute to the outside of the casing, a series of chutes for receiving the genuine coins from the guides, a plate pivoted to the lower portion of each of the last named chutes for retaining coins of standard thickness, means under the control of the operator for swinging said plates to release said coins, a coin holder for receiving coins from each of the genuine coin chutes, a channel for receiving the coins from said holders, a sound signal, means for striking said signal a different number of times for different denomination of coins conveyed by the coin holders, and means such as an operating lever and shaft for operating the mechanism, as specified.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing having coin slots, formed guides leading from said slots for sorting the coins as to diameter, chutes for receiving the genuine coins, a plate pivoted to the lower portion of each of said chutes for re taining coins of standard thickness, means under the control of the customer for swinging said plate to release said coins, coin holders for conveying the coins from the chutes, said holders being adapted to swing said plates, an operating bar connected with said holders, a rack having teeth corresponding in number to the number of coin slots,,and means adapted to actuate the rack a predetermined distance when a coin is conveyed by one of the coin holders, as and for the purpose set forth.

at. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing having coin slots, formed guides leading from said slots for sorting the coins as to diameter, chutes for receiving the genuine coins, a plate pivoted to the lower portion of each of said chutes for retaining coins of standard thickness, means under the control of the customer for swinging said plate to release said coins, coin holders for conveying the coins from the chutes, said holders being adapted to swing said plates, an operating bar connected with said holders, a shaft, a rack secured upon said shaft, said rack having teeth corresponding in number to the number of coin slots, a series of bars projecting from said shaft at different angles and of different length, said bars being in the path of travel of the respective coins when the latter are being conveyed by the holders, a sound signal, a hammer for striking said signal, a lever connected to the hammer, and a pawl pivoted to said lever in the path of travel of the teeth of the rack, whereby the ham mer will be caused to strike the signal a dif ferent number of times for different coins, as specified.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing having coin slots, formed guides leading from said slots for sorting the coins as to diameter, chutes for receiving the genuine coins, a plate pivoted to the lower portion of each of said chutes for retaining coins of standard thickness, means under the control of the customer for swinging said plate to release said coins, coin holders for conveying the coins from the chutes, said &

holders being adapted to swing said plates, an operating bar connected with said holders, a shaft, a rack secured upon said shaft, said rack having teeth corresponding in number to the number of coin slots, a series of bars projecting from said shaft at different angles and of different length, said bars being in the path of travel of the re spective coins when the latter are being conveyed by the holders, a sound signal, a hammer for striking said signal, a lever connected to the hammer, a pawl pivoted to said lever in the path of travel of the teeth of the rack, whereby the hammer will be caused to strike the signal a different number of times for different coins, a channel for receiving the coins from the coin holders, a bar for retaining the coins in said channel, an armature from which said bar pro jects, and means under the control of the central station for actuating said bar to re lease the coins, as and for the purpose set forth.

(3. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a casing having coin slots, formed guides leading from said slots for sorting the coins as to diameter, chutes for receiving the genuine coins, a plate pivoted to the lower portion of each of said chutes for retaining coins of standard thickness, means under the control of the customer for swinging said. plate to release said coins, coin holders for conveying the coins from the chutes, said holders being adapted to swing said plates, an operating bar connected with said holders, a shaft, a rack secured upon said shaft, said rack having teeth corresponding in number to the number of coin slots, a series of bars projecting from said shaft at different angles and of different length, said bars being in the path of travel of the respective coins when the latter are being conveyed by the holders, a sound sig nal, a hammer for striking said signal, a lever connected to the hammer, a pawl piv-- oted to said lever in the path of travel of the teeth of the rack, whereby the hammer will be caused to strike the signal a different number of times for different coins, a channel for receiving the coins from the coin holders, a bar for retaining the coins in said channel, an armature from which said bar projects, means under the control of the central station for actuating said bar to release the coins, a pivoted frame, and a receiver hook with which said frame is connected in such manner as to tilt said frame inward when the hook is in its elevated position, or tilt said frame outward when said hook is held down, as specified.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS X. BEE.

\Vitnesses S. M. GALLAGHER, Eow. XV. ANSTICE. 

